Pooley told the Telegraph that she would like to see women tackling the same stages as men and that a parallel event for women would tap the presence of spectators and media at the race to increase the profile of women’s cycling.

Their petition has already received more than 75,000 signatures and has made an impact on Tour organizers—the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) have said that they will look into it. In the past, women’s events have not prospered due to lack of interest, coverage and funding, but after the success of women’s cycling in the London 2012 Olympics, many feel that this is the right time to reintroduce a women’s Tour.

In a letter to Tour director Christian Prudhomme on Tuesday, Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harmansaid that “women’s cycling should not be allowed to slip back into the shadows,” and calling on him to support the petition and hold a women’s race alongside the Grand Départ, which will take place in the UK in 2014.

Logistics of the event are still being worked out, and the ASO has said that it is unlikely that the first woman’s event will be held in 2014. If discussions carry on in the same vain, however, there will almost certainly be a women’s event scheduled for the future.

I love this!! I totally support a woman’s Tour de France as well! I just read a great book called “One American Woman Fifty Italian Men” by Lynne Ashdown, http://lynneashdown.com/. It’s all about women and cycling, I’d highly recommend it! Go women!!